Names & Faces: Johnny Mac In Ads For Spanish Auto Brand

SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL’s Daniel Kaplan reports tennis analyst John McEnroe is endorsing Spanish car brand Altea in commercials scheduled to break overseas this summer. The ads will run in Europe, parts of Africa, South America and the Middle East, but “the deal does not cover North America” (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/11 issue).

WATER BOY: ESPN.com’s Darren Rovell reported former Univ. of Notre Dame football player Rudy Ruettiger, who was portrayed in the ‘93 movie “Rudy,” is the spokesperson for EON Beverage Group, which makes enhanced oxygenated water. Ruettiger will give a “minimum of 20 speaking engagements a year on behalf of the company.” Rovell noted that since the movie, Ruettiger has made “more than 100 speeches, charging $15,000-plus for corporate talks” (ESPN.com, 7/11).

Japanese Company Trying To Cash In On Sharapova’s Popularity In Asia

SOFT SERVE: Meanwhile, Rovell reported a Japanese company has made pillows — “one in the shape of breasts, another in the shape of legs — called The Sharapowan.” Rovell writes it is “clearly meant to resemble” WTAer Maria Sharapova, who is “extremely popular in Asia.” The Sharapowan logo is “in the shape of the Nike swoosh.” Sharapova is a Nike endorser (ESPN.com, 7/11).

ON THE MONEY: USA TODAY’s Tom Spousta writes, “The Royal Bank of Scotland [RBS] appears to have plenty of pull at the British Open. [Jack] Nicklaus and [Luke] Donald — who have endorsement deals with RBS – [are] paired for the first and second rounds.” The group also includes Tom Watson (USA TODAY, 7/12).

BIG HITTER: In S.F., Dwight Chapin reported Topps has signed an “exclusive trading-card deal with the estate of Negro League legend Josh Gibson.” The company will have rights to “produce all insert cards, cut autograph cards and memorabilia cards, as well as use Gibson’s image on packaging and advertising” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/11).